Palette Play

I'm very excited to join in on Amy's counted blessings stitch-along. I've been homebound all week with strep (not my own) so I don't have my linen yet.

I noticed several of the participants have compiled palettes for their samplers. This approach has never worked for me - artistically, wardrobe-ally, garden-ally, interior decor-ally. I start off with great intentions, the few anchoring pieces/articles/plants...but then I usually blow it with some whimsical item that goes with nothing. But, since I've been homebound (and a little antsy) I decided to go through my floss and see what I came up with. I'm loving this collection of colors...we'll see if I stick to them!

Sign-ups are still welcome! Happy Weekend! xo

Happy Earth Day!

Have you seen this? or this? xo

HMM on my mind!

I have not held up my end of the bargain for the One Small Change Project. Since I didn't post a goal for March, and I'm desperately behind this month, I will post two goals in April:

1. We will install an indoor clothesline and discuss putting one outside. (The outside line will only be a challenge because our house is for sale. We're trying to drill no more holes into this house.) Our next house (or this house come July) will definitely have a clothesline!

2. We will renew our commitment to composting. The weather will help, and part of this goal is that I will read more about composting in Winter when the compost bin is cold, and this wannabe naturalist gets a bit lazy.

In finding a link to post I just realized that this project ends this month...Earth Day month! To those of you just reading about it for the first time, I encourage you to check out Hip Mountain Mama's blog! xo

Mountain Moving (part 1 of 2)

If we hope for our children to one day move mountains....

(please see part 2)

Mountain Moving (part 2 of 2)

We must first teach them...

to respect the mountain,

to understand the mountain,

to honor the mountain,

and to climb the mountain!

You see ant hill, I see mountain! Ky and I went hiking at Emmenegger Nature Park and, just as our hike was ending and it was time to go, we stumbled upon this huge mound. Kyle just instinctively tried to climb it....and slip down it....ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen times! At this point, I sat down and told myself that there would be no clock checking, no "we have to gos" until he got to the top. It took a long time. I could not believe how determined and focused he was. (I have 50+ photos of his efforts...they all look the same, but each one found him with more resolve, more confidence, more determination.) And he did it!

Lessons here for all of us - there always are when it comes to kids, huh? xo

Process vs. Product

So I've only been blogging for a few months, and already I'm grappling with some of the things I've heard/read other bloggers grappling with - nothing life changing, but things like:

* Do I carry my camera with me everywhere so I'm ready if a perfect photo op presents itself? (answer for me: no)

* Do I blog if I have no pictures to illustrate what I'm blogging about? (answer for me: undecided)

* Do I blog to chronicle my process even though I'm in such a fledgling stage of my art business? (answer for me: I have no idea)

My posts have slowed, but it's not for lack of work being done. But it does seem silly (for me) to photograph lists and lists of lists, etc., even though I do enjoy seeing other bloggers' in their process(es). I'm also at the point with my collage party business where it's time to start doing the "guts" of the business part - the business plan, the bank account, the tax ID number. And when I get to those concrete tasks, well, I often find myself doing things like um...sorting glitter. And when I sort glitter I think, "I should make some custom glitter colors" and then I head to the computer to look for the cool glass jars that would hold my custom glitter colors....and...the next thing you know, the banks aren't open anymore, and a business plan hasn't been drafted!

This is where I am these days. In a good place, enjoying the process, but a bit scattered and a bit happy to bask in the perifery...clinging more to the flowery of the business than the weeding and the watering.

So this is a post about process...does it seem ok to include? xo

Whoops!

I forgot to give you the answer to my riddle: The hint was in the post title - we believe this super fun (for me) art vest is actually a shooting vest - shooting as in guns! So the quilted shoulder? Probably to rest the gun handle on. And the little narrow pockets that are so unique? Probably for bullets! And finally, my groovy, handy-dandy pockets? Sigh, to hold extra bullets, shells etc.

The photo today is related to nothing - I was just playing with iphoto and having fun. xo

Teaching children about phototropism

Phototropism is when plants follow their light source. Sunflowers are known for it, but if you're interested, here's a super easy way to witness it firsthand with your kids. First, buy a small pot of oxalis or "false shamrock" - it's easy to find. Plant it in a pot that's a bit too big, because these plants, while beautiful at home, are actually weeds and will grow as such.

See these great flowers? But (sigh) they're facing the wrong way, and I only have the word "bloom" on one side. Mark your pot easily with an "x" or fun word, or with a complete work of art on one side only.

What gorgeous blooms...if only they would face us!

When the day is done, notice how the flowers close for the night.

Now turn your pot around so that your artwork/word side is facing out, and your blooms are facing in. (The blooms are facing in...it's just hard to see here.) And go to sleep!

Viola! When you wake up, your flowers will have turned to face the morning sun, and your plant now can be photographed with your beautiful pot!

But of course, they'll turn again as soon as your turn your word/artwork back to face you. Oh well!

Parents - this is a sure thing! The flowers will always turn, and kids who are interested in this phenomenon will always be delighted to see that their flowers have changed direction! Oxalis also is a great plant to have for all of you who claim to not have a green thumb. It is so prolific and it blooms year round.

Happy Easter! Happy Passover!

Happy Spring!

We had a fun egg hunt...

which led to some baskets...

and then we took a hike,

that brought us home to some gardening requirements (new strawberry bed - yeah!),

and some home repair!

Now we're off to dinner with friends. Wishing you a wonderful day! xo